12/25/2017 Merry Christmas - Traditon Twas the Night Before Christmas - Written 2009 Dana Jones

Hawaiian Monk Seal – ‘Twas the Night before Christmas

Ilio holo I Kau ua ua – Mele Kalikimaka

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the land

Not a monk seal was stirring, amidst the white sand

The molts were completed, they waited with care

In hopes that Mark or Tracy would bleach their new hair

The weaners were nestled all snug on the sand

While dreaming of tako, a slumber so grand

DB on the pier with his scope and his cap

Had just settled down to watch them all nap

When out on the ocean there arose such a clatter

He sprang from his chair to see what was the matter

Away to the railing he flew in a dash

Tore open the camera shutter, no time for a flash

The sun on the crest of incoming waves

Like a nautical lantern, what radiance it gave

When what to his wondering eyes should reveal

One outrigger canoe pulled by Hawaiian Monk seals

With a little ole paddler, so lively & quick

He knew in a moment it must be St. Nick

More rapid than dolphins his courses they came

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name

On Mojo, Duke, Benny & Chester

On Ewa Girl, Irma, Kea & Buster

To the top of the volcano to the top of the wall

Now swim away, swim away, swim away all

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky

So up to Nihoa, Kure & Midway they flew

With a sleigh full of herring a tako or two

And then, in a twinkling, I heard by the reef

I gasped and I sputtered in great disbelief

As I drew in my head and was turning around

St. Nicholas arose from the surf with a bound

He was dressed all in ti leaves from his head to his toes

And his tapas a mess from the long hard row

A bundle of fish he had slung on his back

And he looked like a Kahuna, just opening his pack

His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry

His Hawaiian smile was drawn up like a bow

And the beard on his chin as white as Mauna Kea’s snow

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his chore

Blessing the waters and monk seals on shore

And taking his fingers and pinching his nose

Back out in the surf and down under he dove

He sprang to his boat, to his team gave a whistle

And away they all flew, thru the reef like a missile

But I heard him exclaim, as they swam out of sight

Mele Kalikimaka to all, and to all a good night.

Dana Jones

December 2009